Otto's big hand pressed Rurik's shoulder, hinting him to calm down.
Otto said deliberately: "Is Rurik really young? Or do you think that just because you are young, you are not worthy of being a warrior?"
"Yes!" Arik replied decisively, "It will be at least five years before my brother can truly become a warrior."
"Forget it. Arik, you are still too reckless. Those Covins, those guarding the fortress, include eight-year-old boys and even girls. They participate in the battle, and the arrows they shoot are just as dangerous.
"
"However, you can't expect eight-year-old Rurik to join the team attacking the Gotlanders. We have to fight against strong enemies, and this is not the place Rurik should go."
"Even so, I still have to give him this position." Otto ignored Arik's doubts, and even ignored the doubts of others.
Otto gave a very simple explanation: "Do you think that if you have a job, you have to go to war? Rurik is the symbolic war chief of our tribe. He has been to the battlefield and participated in the Glacier War of our Ross people. Arik
, although your brother is only eight years old, his courage is no worse than yours. This time, Rurik will lead a group of people to the north after the ice and snow melt.
We Rus people are going to build a new settlement in the north, that is Ironburg. There is an unknown world there, there may be dangerous foreigners, and there must be a lot of dangerous beasts.
Rurik will be responsible for building that settlement, and also has the authority to lead some warriors to ward off possible dangers.
As for you..."
At this point, Otto paused deliberately.
Realizing that the atmosphere was very delicate, Arik straightened his back instantly: "How am I doing?"
"You! You also want to become a war chief."
"Ah?!" Arik was so surprised that he almost stood up.
Otto remained calm: "I understand. For a month, you have been lobbying me for the benefits of attacking the Gotlanders. I can't convince you, I can only agree. Since young people have a fighting spirit, this
Very good. I give you permission to lead people to attack the Gotlanders."
"Dad! You finally agreed?!" Aric excitedly called Otto his father.
Otto still remained calm: "I am your father, and even more so your leader. You can go to war, but you must accept my control. I can only give you 200 soldiers, and you can never expect to get more troops."
"This..." The fire that suddenly broke out in Arik's heart was extinguished by a bucket of water. "Two hundred people, I... what can I do?!"
Looking at his aggrieved face, Otto's seriousness did not change at all: "What else do you want? If I give you two hundred people, you won't be able to do anything big?"
"But, I want to land on that damn island to destroy those evil people. Chief, we still have something to do to avenge the Ostara people."
"No! We are not the leader of the alliance yet, and we do not have the authority to do what the Melalen people should do."
Otto's words were a bit subtle, and Arik suddenly realized that the leader's ambition was never a joke.
"So, what do you want me to do?" Aric asked, "I can't loot the Gotland fishing boats at sea?!"
"Hey! That's what I really mean." At this point, Otto's tense face finally showed joy. He patted his son Rurik on the shoulder as if he was playing with a toy. "Aric, what do you think and what do you think?
Your brother agrees. I also ask you to listen to Rurik's opinion."
"His opinion? OK."
Arik sat down slowly, folded his hands and waited for his little brother's wise words.
After Rurik had been holding this in for a long time, he finally had the opportunity to explain it to the second person besides his father.
"My brother, war is inevitable, but we must control the intensity of the war. I am also opposed to your opportunity to dispatch a thousand men, but I strongly support you in taking some actions."
Rurik spoke in a childlike voice, with a face as serious as his biological father's, but it sounded like he had said something, but at the same time he said nothing.
"You...really support it." Arik asked.
"Yes, I support your attack on the Gotlander fishing boats, because although these are not in your plan, they are exactly in my plan."
"Huh? It's very interesting. Go on."
"Arik, actually, your main task is to build our Tombstone Island settlement this year as a war chief. You have to take your brothers and slaves to build it there. One day, when we become strong enough
, we must launch a full-scale attack and eventually take away the wealth of the entire Gotland Island.
Our huge fleet cannot all set off from Fort Ross and launch an attack after a long voyage, as that would make the soldiers too tired.
We really need Tombstone Island as a military gathering point. I heard that from there, it’s only a two-day flight to Gotland?”
"That's right," Aric asserted.
"Oh, that's great. Tombstone Island is our army gathering point. We need to build it and turn it into a fortress. So if the Gotlanders launch a counterattack, they will never be able to break through our fortress. In the end, we
As a result of gathering the troops in the port of the fortress, in the end only we can choose when to go out, and the enemy can only be passively beaten."
My brother was very excited when he heard his words, and he unfolded a very wonderful picture of the future.
Although he knew that it could not be realized quickly, Arik saw hope, and the war fever that lacked a bottom line in his heart finally restrained.
Arik asked about another important matter: "My brother, you said those ships. Do you think it is necessary to attack the ships? Do you think it is necessary to do the work of pirates? In fact, real soldiers are not
I don’t like doing this kind of thing.”
Pirates? Aren’t you, and I, all pirates?
Now, Rurik, who has experienced a real battle, no longer thinks that the word "pirate" is so bad. In such an environment, any fishermen are equivalent to pirates. The reason why they did not choose to plunder first is simply because they are worried about being counterattacked by the other party.
. He felt that the fishermen were generally harmonious, just because in the huge sea area, each fishermen's boats had reached a crisis balance with each other.
Fishermen are all brave and ruthless people.
Rurik had no intention of discussing the topic of "are pirates right?", it was meaningless.
"My purpose is very simple. I hope your ship can actively attack the enemy's fishing boat. You can kill all the enemies and take away all the useful things on the ship, but..."
"Only what?" Aric asked.
"You have to bring the boat back to me."
"Ah?! This..." Arik was very surprised: "According to tradition, those ships are simply destroyed. I will not tow enemy ships without special requirements. What? You actually need those ships?"
"Yes!" Rurik finally stood up to show his determination. He walked straight towards Arik, standing as straight as a red pine: "I'm not interested in how much gold, how much leather, or what good things you grabbed.
I just want those boats, and now, nothing is more important to me than boats."
Arik was suddenly amused by his little brother's words, and the others also snickered.
The serious atmosphere was a little more joyful, and the reason for the joy was very simple.
As a Russian, there is no one who does not love boats.
Rurik looked at the happy people. He moved his delicate little face over and continued to stare at Arik's face that had begun to grow a beard: "I just want those ships. Your people will drag the ships back to me."
"As long as this is the case, are you satisfied?"
After hearing this, Rurik had to think more.
He felt that his brother wanted to ask for some reward, but in fact, Arik was willing to do something for his little brother.
Arik really loves his younger brother. Just like when Rurik was weaker, Arik was always willing to hug him when sleeping. Being able to hug his brother made Arik feel a little warm and proud.
After the battle, it was just a matter of effort to pull back the enemy ship that was not very useful. This was done as soon as it was done.
Rurik didn't know what his brother was thinking. Youdao was a brother who wanted to settle accounts. He had already planned a reward standard, so he said: "I can't let you and your people do things in vain. You go to fight and take the captured things."
If any enemy ship is towed back, I will give you two hundred silver coins for each ship."
"Ah? So many?!" Rurik's words were completely beyond Arik's expectations, and also beyond the expectations of many elders.
"What? A lot? Arik, as long as you can do this, it will be a great contribution to our tribe. Let me say it again, no matter how big or small the enemy ship is, it will be at this price, two hundred silver coins, you and your warriors share it
, it’s up to you how to share it!”
To put it bluntly, Arik wanted the tribe to launch a huge offensive. Deep down in his heart, he mainly wanted to make a fortune from the war and avenge all kinds of people. It was mainly an excuse for war.
A large amount of silver coins poured into Fort Ross, causing inflation in the tribe in an instant. Rurik frantically tried every means to collect silver coins and hoard them, or used various means to control the priests' money. In addition to deliberately amassing money to build a "
"Treasury", objectively also contributes to stabilizing prices.
Even so, the lives of the Rus people have also undergone tremendous changes. The prices of many things have increased, especially the shipbuilding market that has become hot. The price of new ships has been rising steadily. Now you can buy a new ship with 200 silver coins.
It is not impossible to build larger fishing boats.
The price level is changing so fast that both Russians and foreigners have to adapt. Those who are more conservative have become a little uncomfortable.
Can you earn 200 silver coins by towing a fishing boat? Wait? Why does it have to be 200 silver coins?
After thinking about it for a moment, Arick felt that he understood his brother's intention. The bounty is one silver coin for each warrior? If that is the case, Arick believes that everyone will definitely have the motivation to attack fishing boats everywhere, not to mention empty boats.
Drag it back.
As long as he can make money, there is no need to fight against the enemy, although he feels that it is not appropriate to make money from his brother.
Arik deliberately tried to show his timidity and said, "I don't need so much money. You are my brother after all."
"That won't work! I'm very particular about contracts. You and I are brothers, so we have to make a contract even so. This is my attitude, and I won't change it."
"Since you insist, I agree." With these words, Arik was ecstatic in his heart.
Rurik did not finish his words. He added: "I hope that our tribe will not lose a single warrior in future battles."
Arik said in surprise: "This... may be a bit difficult. The enemy is not weak. They will fight to the death to protect their catch. We..."
"Just listen to me. I will provide you with a batch of special weapons."
"What kind of weapon is that?"
"It's my steel-arm crossbow!" Rurik said the phrase "stella krosebage", but the crossbow was still very unfamiliar to Arik.
"You mean the crossbow? I've seen your test and it seems pretty good, but..."
"Do you think its performance in actual combat is questionable?" Rurik shook his head, "It is really excellent. The arrows it fires can penetrate the enemy's wooden shields, and it must also be able to penetrate the hull of the ship. The arrows hit the enemy.
, can cause death. Compared with a bow, my crossbow does not even need much training to be used well. Use the crossbow to kill those people and seize their ships. This is what I designed against Gotland.
Man’s new tactics.”
These words were very dreamy, and Arik also believed that seeing is believing, so he hesitated for the time being. Otto, who never wanted to shut up, now stood up for Rurik, praising the power of the crossbow.
Rurik expected his brother to question him.
"The mercenary captain under me participated in the battle in the east and made great achievements. At least twenty mercenaries are worthy of our trust now. Arik, maybe you don't know that our big leader has appointed these twenty people to be
Warriors of our tribe.”
"There is such a thing?!" Arik had never heard of it. "Are they reliable?"
"Three hundred people fought against eight hundred people, and they were never timid! They were trained by me to be masters of using crossbows. They shot many enemies, and they can be trusted! So they will join your team as warriors of our tribe.
."
"Big boss, is that true?" Arik asked Otto suspiciously, and received a very positive answer.
Yes, Otto kept his promise. When the army was still on the frozen Oulu River and triumphant, he made a promise to give the mercenaries who had made military exploits the status of "Ross tribesmen." Back in Rossburg, Otto kept his promise.
The promise is that the joining ceremony was too low-key.
It was here that Rurik announced that his mercenary captain and a group of mercenaries would form a team of twenty to join Arik's crusade. Rurik also mentioned a new naval battle routine, that is, do not give priority to collision
and gang-hopping fighting tactics.
The arrows of the Gotlanders are not strong, and are even worse than those of the Finns and Covens. The new tactic is for the ships to quickly approach with the tactical advantage of the Ross oars, and suddenly fire crossbows at the enemy ships to kill the enemy. After all,
Enemy ships also have no decks.
What Rurik wanted was a ship. His bottom line was that the ship would not leak. In this case, the hull would be riddled with holes from crossbow arrows, and even the mast would be broken. Such a terrible ship would still be worth two hundred silver coins.
Rurik was also planning another thing, which was to let Arik lead his brothers to fight and use actual combat to test whether the crossbow he developed was really as powerful a naval weapon as imagined.
Rurik clearly had many plans. In order to use the crossbow tactics, he was determined to spend a lot of money, as many as two thousand arrows!
Of course, some of these arrows participated in the battle against the Kovin people. Among the one thousand recovered after the war, their arrow clusters were relatively intact, most of the arrow shafts needed to be redone, and almost all the feathers on the tails fell off.
.
On the other hand, these relatively heavy crossbow arrows do not need tail feathers at all when used at short distances. It is even said that they deliberately cut a piece of wood with a knife and cut the end into a slightly tail-like shape, so that the arrows can most likely still fly at a longer distance.
The distance keeps the flight smooth.
In the final analysis, Rurik's concept is that his crossbow is a tactical weapon used within fifty meters. Beyond this distance, the accuracy will be somewhat degraded. The worst thing is actually the reduction in power caused by the loss of kinetic energy.
During the "Northern Hunting" period, Klavason's blacksmith shop was not idle at all. He had to continue to fulfill Rurik's production requirements for crossbows, and at the same time he had to fulfill the steel sword needs of tribal warriors. Although he had a lot of wealth, Klavason
Sen became even busier, and he had to start squeezing the labor force of the eight-year-old Kamnier, forcing such a child to forge iron and operate fire tongs. There was also a pregnant daughter-in-law who had to produce glass instead of resting in peace.
Utensils and winemaking.
Clavason has produced many new crossbow arrows, and these arrows are full of imagination.
Because their arrow clusters are glass arrow clusters formed by condensation of liquid glass cast in bronze molds.
According to this old blacksmith's understanding, because the crossbow is too strong, the excellent steel arrow cluster is always fine, and the arrow shaft needs to be replaced with a new one after almost one use. Youdao is an arrow shaft with constant arrow clusters and flowing water.
Based on this principle, why should we stick to iron arrow clusters?
A large number of crossbow arrows with glass arrow clusters are still mass-produced. Finally, they are cut into wooden sticks that are not too straight, and tied with pine gum and hemp rope. In this way, a low-quality disposable crossbow arrow that does not even have tail feathers is completed. Still.
Don't tell me, it is really inferior, but it has a high production capacity.
After all, it was a battle. All Rurik gave his brother were iron-clustered arrows. He was vague on the issue of battle, which meant abusing his own warriors. Rurik did not dare to do that kind of thing. Finally, those inferior crossbow arrows with glass arrow clusters were used.
It must be useful for hunting, but there is basically no thought of secondary use.
It doesn't matter! Rurik even thought that he could equip his men with more glass crossbows. After all, if the team only wears leather and charges intensively, glass crossbows can kill the enemy, so there is no need to use expensive iron cluster arrows.
It seems that at this point, the arrangements for this year's war have come to an end.
After all, today's meeting is not just about studying how to fight a war.
Otto saw that the headache that had caused him finally ended with Arik's compromise and happiness.
Otto made two other plans.
First, Otto, as the leader, will lead the fleet in the tribal tradition of paying tribute in the spring to Novgorod.
Second, Rurik needs to lead a group of tribesmen and all the surrendered Kovin people of the Gray Squirrel tribe to the mine in the north to establish a permanent settlement. It is best to quickly utilize the rich local iron ore resources to smelt iron.
The meeting ended. Immediately after the meeting, Arik met the mercenary captain Yevro and saw with his own eyes the so-called crossbow usage routine invented by Rurik.
Rurik organized all his mercenaries, as well as some soldiers who had participated in the decisive battle on the glacier. Rurik was surprised to have organized seventy crossbowmen, and being able to use so many crossbows was a miracle in itself.
.
Such a formation not only shocked Otto, but also made all the onlookers cheer. I am afraid that this is the true state of Rurik's so-called "Russian Arrow Formation"!
They lined up in two rows, and they pulled the triggers at the same time. The wooden plank erected fifty steps away was instantly riddled with iron cluster arrows, and many arrows directly penetrated the wooden plank. Of course, upon closer inspection, the plank was
It is also pieced together from specially selected materials. It is inherently fragile. It was smashed until sawdust flew everywhere and was riddled with holes. It was really a good show.
The onlookers were shocked, especially the craftsmen who were professional shipbuilders. When they saw such a scene, they had to think of something very realistic: "We must use thicker, preferably oak boards that have been dried for many years.
Use it to build a big ship. Even if the materials are hard to find, it is still better than being hit by crossbow arrows and leaking."
The craftsmen subconsciously thought of the possibility of technology leakage. In order to ensure the sturdiness of the Ross ship and not ruin their own brand, they decided to improve the manufacturing process.
It cannot be said that their ideas are unfounded, but the fact is that around the Baltic Sea, throughout Europe, and even around the Mediterranean, there is no other European nation that knows how to forge and refine steel, and it lacks the imagination to use its elasticity to make powerful weapons.
With the strongest long-range weapons, Arik was full of hope for future plunder operations. In the hope of countless people, everyone ushered in the thaw of the ice sea and ushered in the great sacrifice that the Russians were forced to postpone.